Convertible refrigerator/freezer

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator provides for flexibility in the allocation of refrigerator space. The refrigerator includes multiple compartments. Each of the compartments can be convertible or resizable between a freezer compartment and a refrigeration compartment. Preferably, each compartment is independently temperature controlled. To resize the compartments, positionable separators can be used.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to refrigeration devices such asrefrigerators or freezers. Refrigerators and freezers are well-known.

In a typical domestic refrigerator, the refrigerator has two separatecompartments. The first compartment is for food storage and the secondcompartment for freezer storage. The food compartment typically has atemperature somewhat above 0° C. while the freezer compartment has atemperature maintained below 0° C. In a typical refrigerator, there is adamper that allows cooled air from the freezer compartment to enter therefrigerator compartment.

What is needed is an improved refrigerator that provides for convertiblecompartments and/or size adjustable compartments.

Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the presentinvention to improve upon the state of the art.

It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present inventionto provide a refrigerator that includes multiple compartments.

Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is toprovide a refrigerator that includes convertible compartments such thateach compartment is not limited to being merely a freezer compartment ormerely a refrigeration compartment.

Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is toprovide a refrigerator that provides for size adjustable compartments.

Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is toprovide for a refrigerator with multiple compartments that requires onlya single refrigeration system.

One or more of these and/or other objects, features, or advantages ofthe present invention will become apparent from the specification andclaims that follow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for a refrigerator that includes multipleconvertible compartments which are preferably size adjustable in nature.Thus, the present invention provides for a reconfigurable refrigeratorthat gives the user flexibility in the allocation of refrigerator space.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a refrigeratorincludes a refrigerator cabinet. There is at least one door operativelyconnected to the refrigerator cabinet for providing access to inside ofthe refrigerator cabinet. There is a first compartment disposed withinthe refrigerator cabinet and a second compartment disclosed within therefrigerator cabinet. At least one of these compartments is convertiblebetween a freezer compartment and a refrigeration compartment. Thecompartments can be separated by a moveable separator between the firstcompartment and the second compartment. The moveable separator isadapted for placement in different positions in order to alter the sizeof the first compartment and the size of the second compartment.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a refrigeratorincludes a refrigerator cabinet and at least one door operativelyconnected to the refrigerator cabinet for providing access to inside ofthe refrigerator cabinet. There is a first compartment disposed withinthe refrigerator cabinet and a second compartment disposed within therefrigerator cabinet. There is also a refrigerant system disposed withinthe refrigerator cabinet adapted to provide cooled air. The refrigeratorincludes a first damper to selectively provide the cooled air to thefirst compartment and a second damper to selectively provide the cooledair to the second compartment. The use of multiple dampers allows thecompartments to be convertible so that either compartment can be used asa refrigerating or food storage compartment and each compartment can beused as a freezer compartment.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a refrigeratorincludes a refrigerator cabinet and at least one door. There is aremovable and repositionable separator adapted to divide an interior ofthe refrigerator cabinet into multiple convertible compartments.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator isadapted for providing user flexibility in the allocation or refrigeratorspace. The refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet and at least onedoor operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet to provide accessto the refrigerator space. The refrigerator space is divided intomultiple compartments through at least one positionable separator. Eachof the compartments is convertible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a refrigeratoraccording to the present invention having multiple compartments.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a refrigerator ofthe present invention having multiple compartments wherein the size ofeach of the compartments is adjustable through positioning ofseparators.

FIG. 3 is an electrical schematic for one embodiment of a control systemfor a refrigerator having convertible compartments.

FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic for another embodiment of a controlsystem for a refrigerator having convertible compartments.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram for the control process of one embodiment of arefrigerator having multiple convertible compartments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides for a refrigerator that is flexible inthat it provides the user with improved control over the allocation ofrefrigerator space. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of arefrigerator according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, arefrigerator 10 is shown with a refrigerator cabinet 12. Disposed withinthe refrigerator cabinet 12 is a first compartment 14. A first door 16is operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet 12 in order toprovide access to the refrigerator compartment 14 which is in theinterior of the refrigerator 10. A second refrigerator compartment 18 isalso shown. A second refrigerator door 20 provides access to therefrigerator compartment 18. Also a separator 22 is shown between thefirst compartment 14 and the second compartment 18. The separator 22shown in FIG. 1 is fixed in place, however, the present invention alsoprovides for a positionable or adjustable separator as will later bediscussed.

The refrigerator 10 of FIG. 1 provide a user with increased flexibilityin that the first compartment 14 and the second compartment 18 areconvertible. That is to say that each of the first compartment 14 andthe second compartment 18 can be used as a freezer compartment or as afood storage type refrigerator compartment. Thus, each compartment canbe used for freezer storage or the user can elect to use each of thecompartments for refrigeration. In other words, the temperature of eachof the convertible compartments can be set below 0° C. for freezerstorage or above 0° C. for refrigerator storage. Each of the convertiblecompartments can maintain a temperature independent of the temperatureof the other compartments, thus each compartment is independentlyconvertible.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a refrigerator. In FIG. 2, arefrigerator 30 has a refrigerator cabinet 32 and a refrigerator door 34operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet 32. Within theinterior of the refrigerator cabinet 32, there is refrigerator spacewhich is divided into a first compartment 36, a second compartment 38,and a third compartment 40. The refrigerator space is divided intomultiple compartments through use of a positionable separator 42 and apositionable separator 48. Each of the positionable separators 42, 48can be positioned at different locations within the refrigerator spacewithin the refrigerator cabinet 32 in order to provide the userflexibility in the manner in which the refrigerator space is allocated.As shown in FIG. 2, the separator 42 is inserted into separator supports44 and 46. The separator 48 is inserted into separator supports 50 and52. Additional separator supports are provided such as separatorsupports 58 and 60 as well as separator supports 54 and 56. Thus, byplacing the refrigerator separator 42 and 48 in different refrigeratorsupports, the refrigerator space can be reallocated.

Preferably the separators 42 and 48 are insulated to maintaintemperature differentials between the compartments defined by theseparators. The present invention contemplates that the separators 42and 48 can be adjustably connected to the refrigerator cabinet in anynumber of ways. This includes, but is not limited to insertion ofrefrigerator separators into slots, onto supports, or by otherconnection means, including those connection means used to connectshelves within refrigerators or as otherwise known in the art. With theseparators 42 and 48 in place, each of the compartments 36, 38 and 40 isconvertible, thus separate temperatures may be maintained in each of thecompartments independent of the temperatures of the other compartments.It is to be understood that these temperatures are independentlymaintained even though each of the separators 42 and 48 do notnecessarily act as perfect insulators.

In FIG. 3, a cold control upper switch 100 and a cold control lowerswitch 108, both single pole, single throw (SPST) switches are used tocontrol the flow of cooled air into an upper compartment and a lowercompartment, respectively, through opening and closing of dampers andalso to turn on a cooling system 120 when needed and to turn off thecooling system 120 when not needed.

In FIG. 3, a damper 104 associated with an upper compartment iselectrically connected to a cold control unit single pole-single throwswitch 100 and a relay 102. Thus the control unit 100 is used to openand close the damper 104. A second relay 106 is also connected to thecold control unit 100 which is used to switch on and off relay 118 whichis electrically connected to a cooling system 120. Thus when cooling isrequired in the upper compartment, the cold control unit 100 switches onthereby opening the damper 104 and switching on the cooling system ifthe cooling system is not already on.

Similarly, a second cold control single pole-single throw switch 108 isassociated with a lower compartment. The cold control switch 108 iselectrically connected to a relay 110 and relay 114 as well as a damper112 associated with the lower compartment. The relay 110 is alsoelectrically connected to the relay 118 which is electrically connectedto the cooling system 120 and relay 122 for switching on the coolingsystem 120. Also, a timer 116 is present for periodically switching onthe cooling system 120.

An alternative embodiment for an electrical schematic using cold controlunits is shown in FIG. 4. The embodiment of FIG. 4 also uses coldcontrol units. The electrical schematic in FIG. 4 provides an advantagein that two less relays are required. Note that cold control unit 130and 132 are both single pole double throw switches. Thus, reducing thenumber of relays required.

The present invention provides for using data acquisition means, such astemperature sensors in conjunction with an intelligent control such as aprocessor or microcontroller to provide for control of temperaturewithin the convertible compartments.

FIG. 5 provides a flow diagram illustrating control logic. In step 150the temperature of the first compartment is evaluated and in step 152the temperature of the second compartment is evaluated. The presentinvention contemplates that each temperature can be taken at a singlepoint. Alternatively, the present invention contemplates that eachtemperature can be a spatial average of temperatures measured atmultiple points. Alternatively, each temperature can be computed using arunning average. The present invention contemplates that temperature maybe evaluated according to any number of other specific methodology aswell.

In step 154 a determination is made as to whether the temperature of thefirst compartment is greater than a desired temperature of the desiredcompartment. If so, then, in order to cool the compartment, in step 156a damper associated with the first compartment is opened. Then in step158 a determination is made as to whether or not the refrigerant systemis on. If not, then in step 160, the refrigerant system is switched on.Returning to step 154, if the temperature of the first compartment isnot greater than the desired temperature of the first compartment, thenthe damper associated with the first compartment is closed in step 162.

In step 164 a determination is made as to whether the temperature of thesecond compartment is greater than the desired temperature for thesecond compartment. If so, then the second compartment needs to becooled and in step 166 a damper associated with the second compartmentis opened. Then in step 168, a determination is made as to whether ornot the refrigerant system is on or not. If not, then in step 170 therefrigerant system is switched on. Returning to step 164, if thetemperature of the second compartment is not greater than the desiredtemperature of the second compartment, then there is no need foradditional cooling at this time and in step 172 the damper associatedwith the second compartment is closed.

Next, in step 174 a determination is made as to whether or not thedamper of the first compartment is closed and the damper of the secondcompartment is closed. If both dampers are closed, then the refrigerantsystem is switched off in 176 as there is no need to continue to producecooled air. The process then repeats with a reevaluation of thetemperature of the compartments in steps 150 and 152.

The flow diagram shown in FIG. 5 is merely one embodiment of the flow ofcontrol that can be used according to the present invention. It shouldbe appreciated that the flow diagram can be extended to allow for morethan two compartments. This and other variations are contemplated by thepresent invention.

Thus, a refrigerator has been disclosed that allows for refrigeratorspace to be reconfigured such as through the use of convertiblecompartments and through the use of resizable compartments. The presentinvention contemplates numerous variations, including in the number ofcompartments, the manner in which the compartments are separated, andother variations within the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator cabinet; at least one dooroperatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet for providing accessto inside of the refrigerator cabinet; a first compartment disposedwithin the refrigerator cabinet; a second compartment disposed withinthe refrigerator cabinet; wherein at least one of the first compartmentand the second compartment is convertible between a freezer compartmentand a refrigeration compartment.
 2. The refrigerator of claim 1 furthercomprising a moveable separator between the first compartment and thesecond compartment adapted for placement in one of a plurality ofpositions to alter a size of the first compartment and a size of thesecond compartment.
 3. The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising afirst damper associated with the first compartment and a second damperassociated with the second compartment.
 4. The refrigerator of claim 1further comprising a first cold control associated with the firstcompartment and a second cold control associated with the secondcompartment.
 5. The refrigerator of claim 4 wherein the first coldcontrol and the second cold control are electrically connected to a SPDTswitch.
 6. The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising a refrigerantsystem comprising a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporation loop. 7.The refrigerator of claim 6 further comprising a first damper associatedwith the first compartment and a second damper associated with thesecond compartment wherein the refrigerant system provides cool air andthe first damper controls airflow into the first compartment and thesecond damper controls airflow into the second compartment.
 8. Arefrigerator comprising: a refrigerator cabinet; at least one dooroperatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet for providing accessto inside of the refrigerator cabinet; a first compartment disposedwithin the refrigerator cabinet; a second compartment disposed withinthe refrigerator compartment; a refrigerant system disposed within therefrigerator cabinet adapted to provide cooled air; a first damper toselectively provide the cooled air to the first compartment; a seconddamper to selectively provide the cooled air to the second compartment.9. The refrigerator of claim 8 further comprising a control systemoperatively connected to the refrigeration system, the first damper andthe second damper.
 10. The refrigerator of claim 9 wherein the controlsystem is adapted to evaluate temperature associated with the firstcompartment and temperature associated with the second compartment andto selectively open and close the first damper and the second damper.11. The refrigerator of claim 9 wherein the control system maintains thefirst compartment at a first temperature and the second compartment at asecond temperature, the first temperature being independent of thesecond temperature.
 12. The refrigerator of claim 8 further comprising aseparator between the first compartment and the second compartment andpositionable in a plurality of locations to adjust a size of the firstcompartment and a size of the second compartment.
 13. In a refrigeratorhaving a refrigerator cabinet, a door operatively connected to therefrigerator cabinet, a refrigerant system adapted for providing cooledair and disposed within the cabinet, and a first compartment and asecond compartment, an improved control system comprising a first damperassociated with the first compartment for providing the cooled air tothe first compartment; a second damper associated with the secondcompartment for providing the cooled air to the second compartment. 14.The refrigerator of claim 13 wherein temperature of the firstcompartment is independent of the second compartment such that the firstcompartment and the second compartment are independently convertiblebetween food storage at a temperature above freezing and freezer storageat a temperature below freezing.
 15. The refrigerator of claim 13wherein the control system further comprises an intelligent control. 16.The refrigerator of claim 15 wherein the intelligent control is adaptedto evaluate temperature of the first compartment and temperature of thesecond compartment.
 17. The refrigerator of claim 16 wherein theintelligent control is further adapted to control the refrigerantsystem, the first damper and the second damper based on the temperatureof the first compartment and the temperature of the second compartment.18. A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator cabinet; at least one dooroperatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet for providing accessto inside of the refrigerator cabinet; a removable and repositionableseparator adapted to divide an interior of the refrigerator cabinet intomultiple convertible compartments.
 19. The refrigerator of claim 18further comprising a plurality of dampers for selectively providingcooled air to the interior of the refrigerator cabinet.
 20. In arefrigerator having a refrigerator cabinet, at least any dooroperatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet, an improved interiorto the refrigerator cabinet, said improved interior comprising aplurality of size adjustable and convertible compartments.
 21. Therefrigerator of claim 20 further comprising a repositionable separatorfor altering the size of at least two of the plurality of sizeadjustable and convertible compartments.
 22. A refrigerator adapted forproviding a user flexibility in allocation of refrigerator spacecomprising: a refrigerator cabinet; at least one door operativelyconnected to the refrigerator cabinet to provide access to therefrigerator space wherein the refrigerator space is divided intomultiple compartments through at least one positionable separator;wherein each of the compartments is convertible.